Self-lubricating spring



F. R. HARRINGTON.

SELF LUBRICATING SPRING. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1920.

1,395,494. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK R. HARRINGTON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK A. MILLER, OF

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-LUBRICATING SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK R. HARRING- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Lubricating Springs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a self-lubricating spring and has for an object the provi-.

sion of a spring structure which has lubrieating means integrally formed therewith, and which lubricating means is capable of automatically and positively lubricating said spring structure at all times. Another object is the provision of a lubricating means in conjunction with a spring structure which is positive in action, does not require an attachment and does not weaken the spring structure in any manner.

In practising the invention I provide a spring structure composed of a main leaf and a plurality of superimposed or coacting auxiliary leaves, each of the auxiliary leaves being provided at each end with a ,cupshaped transverse memberor well portion, and which well portion opens toward the leaf directly above it. The interior of the well portion is provided with a lubricating pad composed of .some fibrous material which will absorb a lubricant. One end of the well portion has a perforation whereby be passed to the interior of the well A main feature of this invention is the provision of a well which is integrally formed with each of the auxiliary leaves and preferably at the ends thereof, and'which well portion does not in any manner weaken the general spring structure. Most devices on the market for lubricating a spring struc-- ture depends n some manner upon channeling the leaves so that the oil may run between co-a'ctin'g leaf surfaces. Another method is to slot the spring'structure in order to pass oil between the leaves comprising said structure. It will be obvious that the spring leaf will always break wherever there happens to be a hole or slot therein, as this would be the weakest point when the leaf is flexed excessively. Furthermore, channeling the leaves also causes a weakness, and it is a known fact that any device clamped over a spring structure such as a boxing, does not'allow freedom of the spring structure, as for instance,

A spring structure composed of leaves has a fiexion and movement up'and down some times as much as two inches, and any side thrust against a wheel will cause the leaves to twist sidewise. Obviously, then, any structure or device that tightly surrounds the spring structure will prevent free movement of each of the leaves which make the spring structure. The invention about to be described overcomes all of vthese objections. In fact, a well portion can be placed upon any spring structure simply by heating the ends of the auxiliary leaves and then pressing the end into the form of a well, which is ordinary mechanical practice. It is obvious that a well portion such as has been described is easily cleaned by simply running a stifi wire through the perfioration contained in the end wall of the The invention has for further objects the provision of animproved self-lubricating spring structure which will be superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness, taken in conjunction with utility, durability and general efficiency.

I'Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, combination, association and inter-relation of parts, members and features, all as disclosed in the accompanying drawing, described in the following statement and'finally pointed flout in claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, certain parts being shown in section, of an improved spring structure, said spring structure being of the type ordinarily used in vehicles;

Fig. 2 is an isometric cross sectional view showing certain features of the invention, and particularly the lubricating well portion; and

Fig. 3 is an isometric cross sectional view taken on the line m 0a Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

The improved self-lubricating spring structure A includes a main leaf 1 and a plurality of auxiliary leaves 2. Each of the auxiliary leaves 2 has integrally formed, preferably at the ends thereof, as at 3, a lubricating well portion 4; said lubricating well portion is formed by heatingthe ends of the leaves and then stamping said ends so that the metal is made thin and caused to have outstanding ears, which ears are oppositely directed and then turned upwardly and closed so that they form a structure similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Of.

course this method of forming a well portion is standard practice and is Well known in the mechanical arts. After the well portion 4 has been formed an end portion as at 5 is perforated as at 6. The opposite end as '7 of the well portion 4 is closed. Within the well portion 4 is placed an absorbent material or pad8 which extends the longitudinal length of the well portion. The absorbent pad 8 is channeled as at. 8 so that when a lubricating material such as oil or graphite, etc., is poured through the perfora- 2'0-tion 6 the oil will contact with the channeled portion or grooved portion 8 and be absorbed by the'pad. moves inwardly upon the pad it runs the'entire length of the channeled portion 8*, but is prevented from being lost by the closed end portion 7. y

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it is observed that all the leaves are so placed that they are in superficial contact with'one another.

Whatever squeak or excessive friction ocours in a spring structure of the class described'usually occurs at the end portions -or for a portion, say 2 inches from the end portion, when the spring structure is flexed. As the spring leaves move over each other "one of the leaves tends to move apart from the leaf with which it is normally in superficial contact. This allows any oil orlubricant contained within the well to flow down- 40 "Wa1rd1y upon a'surface or surfaces 9 of the leaf structure so that it lubricates the coacting surfaces of each of the leaves. As has "been stated, if a side thrust should occur the leaves will simply twist sidewise, but this will not result in any damage to the lubricating portion of the spring structure.

Almost any form of leaf structure or spring structure could utilize this form of well for lubricating purposes, and I do not wish to confine my invention to the particular spring structure shown in Fig. 1, and just described' The spring structure shown in Fig. 1 is of the type ordinarily used on land 7 vehicles and shows the spring structure A held by U bolts to an axle frame member of a vehicle. Obviously the main leaf of the structure A could be provided with a lubricating well portion and the lubricating well portions could be turned downwardly '60' instead of upwardly, but this change in "manufacture would not in any manner change the general result. 7

It is obvious that many changes and variations and modifications may be made in departure from the particular description and Obviously as the oil showing of the accompanying drawing, in adapting the inventlon to varying conditions and requirements of use and service, without as to close the ends of said downwardly and partially returned curved portion; one of said ears being pression in its open edge whereby lubricant may be placed within the well portion {formed bythe downwardly and returnedly -curved and closed portion'of the spring.

2. As an article of manufacture, a leaf spring provided at its end'with an integrally formed transverse downwardly and partially returned curved portion, the end of "said curved portion of'the spring lying in the plane of a surface of the spring, and integrally formed ears adapted to be'bent so as to close the ends of said downwardly and partially returned curved portion one "*of'sald ears being formed with a transverse depressionfin its open edge whereby lubriformed with a transverse decant may be placed within the well portion formed by'the downwardly and returnedly curved and closed portion of the spring; 'there'being means within said well portion for holding'and distributing a lubricant.

3. As an article of manufacture, a leaf spring provided at its end with an integrally formed transverse downwardly and partially returned curved portion, the end' of said curved portion of the spring lying in. the plane of a surface of the spring, and integrally formed ears adapted to be bent so as to close the ends of said downwardly and parftially returned curved portion one of said ears" being formed with a transversedepression in its open edge whereby lubricant may be placed within the well portion formed by the downwardlyand returnedly curved'and closed portion of the spring; there being means within said well portion for holding and distributing a lubricant said means com prising a felt pad formed W'ith a channel *the'rein leading to the depression. p L-Aspri'ng structure comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves in facial'contact each with the other, the ends} of said leaves being bent to produce J lubrication 'wells, superficial contact of the face of a leaf with the next adjacent'leaf terminatin at the well, whereby all fiexion ofthe leaf is confined to a zone lying inwardly 'of the outer wall of the well. 7 I

5. Aspiring structure comprising a plu rality of superimposed leaves in facial contact each with the other, the ends of said leaves being bent to produce lubrication wells, superficial contact of the face of the leaf with the next adjacent leaf terminating at the well, whereby all flexion of the leaf is confined to a zone lying inwardly of the outer wall of the well; means being provided within said well for retaining lubricant therein and gradually dispensing it to the adjacent leaf surface.

6. A spring structure comprising a plurality of superimposed leaves in facial contact each with the other, the ends of said leaves being bent to produce lubrication wells, open each at one end, superficial contact of the face of the leaf with the next adjacent leaf terminating at the well, whereby all flexion of the leaf is confined to a zone lying inwardly of the outer wall of the well.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK R. HARRINGTON. 

